Collecting Data Using a Trimble GeoExplorer Tutorial... by default

Collecting Data Using a Trimble GeoExplorer Tutorial

Created by: Amanda West, Bill Zawacki and Amy Birtwistle

Advisors: Nicholas Young and Paul Evangelista

Date: October 9th

, 2012

Copyright © 2011 Trimble Navigation Limited

Tutorial: Using the Trimble GeoExplorer

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Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3

1) Before you head out into the field to collect data ...................................................................... 3

2) Configure settings with TerraSync software before data collection .......................................... 3

3) When you are at the data collection site .................................................................................... 5

4) Computing GPS positions ............................................................................................................. 6

5) OPTIONAL INFORMATION (Skyplot box) ...................................................................................... 7

6) To Create a New File ..................................................................................................................... 7

7) Collecting a Point Feature ............................................................................................................ 8

8) Collecting a Line Feature .............................................................................................................. 8

9) Collecting an Area Feature ........................................................................................................... 9

10) Vertex Averaging .......................................................................................................................... 9

11) Ending Data Collection ............................................................................................................... 10

12) Navigation ................................................................................................................................... 10

13) Connecting the Trimble Device to the Computer ...................................................................... 10

14) GPS Pathfinder Office Software v. 4.20-File Settings and Options ........................................... 10

15) Transferring Data from the Trimble to a Computer using GPS Pathfinder Office Software .... 11

16) Viewing your Files in GPS Pathfinder Office .............................................................................. 12

17) Plotting the Map in GPS Pathfinder Office ................................................................................ 12

18) Differential Correction of Data in GPS Pathfinder Office .......................................................... 12

Additional References .......................................................................................................................... 12


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Introduction This is an introductory guide that explains how a Trimble GeoExplorer user can set up and take gps

ground data within the parameters that the user decides to use. In this tutorial we used Trimble’s

TerraSync software. Through the following steps you will learn how to choose the optimal

settings that will give you the best accuracy on the day that you are collecting, how to create a

point, line, or area data, downloading the data to a computer and more. This is not a

comprehensive guide to all of the GeoExplorer’s capabilities but is designed to get you on the right

track and to collect quality datasets.

1) Before you head out into the field to collect data

a) Make sure the batteries are charged

b) Make sure the field computer and GPS receiver are communicating

c) After testing the system, turn off the field computer to save battery life (any receiver that is

connected to it is automatically turned off as well)

2) Configure settings with TerraSync software before data collection

You will configure these settings to suit your needs, and you may do this before you are out in the

field. In step 3, I am configuring the device to collect data in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Therefore I

am in UTM Zone 13 North. If you already have your device configured to suit your needs for

collecting data, skip to step (3).

a) Turn on the Trimble device to configure

b) Release the pen that is attached to the device (you will use this pen to make all selections)

c) Tap the windows icon , then Programs/TerraSync

d) You should see a Skyplot screen (Figure 1), with a Status Box and a Skyplot Box in the left

corner

e) Click on Status/Setup (you should see a screen similar to Figure 2)

f) Click on Logging Settings:

i) Accuracy Settings: Accuracy Value for display/logging:

(1) horizontal, in the field

(2) use accuracy-based logging- NO

Figure 1: Skyplot screen Figure 2: Status/Setup screen

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=windows+icon&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS446US447&biw=1229&bih=778&tbm=isch&tbnid=wiEM6kh7NqaxFM:&imgrefurl=http://www.bugcomputers.co.uk/services/4555121716&docid=lk-qFgjfpFeR0M&imgurl=http://www.bugcomputers.co.uk/communities/4/004/009/454/844/images/4553359191.png&w=640&h=582&ei=U4mpT-W8OoiWgwen6vmJCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=718&vpy=168&dur=971&hovh=214&hovw=235&tx=112&ty=114&sig=110812090030985981773&page=1&tbnh=126&tbnw=142&start=0&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:148


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ii) Point/Vertex auto-pause count: NONE

iii) Antenna Height : 1.3 meters (set to the distance from the ground to the antenna if you are

using one)

iv) Allow position update: CONFIRM

v) Confirm end feature: YES

vi) Filename Prefix: (put your initials or other prefix you want files saved under here)

vii) Waypoint Filename Prefix: (W, or other waypoint filename prefix you choose)

viii) Between Feature Logging:

(1) Style-Time

(2) Interval-OFF

ix) Click DONE

g) Click on GPS Settings (note: may also be set via Status bar or GNSS settings):

i) GPS Receiver Port: COM3 (or another port you will be using)

ii) If you want to set the parameters for the GPS slide bar manually, uncheck the box next to

it, then follow steps iii-vii. Otherwise, click DONE

iii) Max PDOP : 12 (may also use 8-11 depending on preference)

iv) MinSNR: 35-37 (excludes satellites with low quality signals)

v) Min Elevation: 10-12° (the lower you set this, the more satellites you make available to the

GPS receiver)

vi) NMEA Output: OFF

vii) Click DONE

h) Click on Real –time Settings:

i) Choice 1: Use uncorrected GPS or Integrated WAAS

ii) Click DONE

i) Click Coordinate System (the following selections are for the Fort Collins, Colorado example):

i) System: UTM

ii) Zone: 13 North

iii) Datum: WGS 1984

iv) Altitude Reference: Mean Sea Level

v) Altitude Units: Meters

vi) Display USNG: OFF

vii) Geoid: DMA 10x10 (Global)

viii) Coordinate Units: Meters

ix) Coordinate Order: North/East

x) Click DONE


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j) Click Units:

i) Distance Units: Meters

ii) Area Units: Square Meters

iii) Velocity Units: Kilometers per hour

iv) Angle Units: Degrees

v) Lat/Long Format: DD⁰MM’SS.ss”

vi) Offset Format: Horizontal/Vertical

vii) North Ref: True

viii) Magnetic Declination: Auto (8.8° E)

ix) Click DONE

k) External Sensor Settings (if available): Use default

l) When you have finished the configuration, turn off the Trimble device to save battery power

-

3) When you are at the data collection site

a) Turn on the Trimble Device

b) Tap the windows icon , then Programs/TerraSync; the GPS receiver should start

automatically

c) You should see a Skyplot screen like Figure 3, with a Status Box and a Skyplot Box in the left

corner

Move to a location where you have a clear, unobstructed view of the sky: Your Skyplot screen

should look similar to Figure 4. You can see the North (N) indicator. Filled, black boxes represent

satellites that the GPS receiver is using to compute your current position. White, unfilled boxes

represent satellites the GPS receiver is getting signals from but is not using (likely weak signals).

Figure 1: Skyplot screen



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4) Computing GPS positions

If the receiver is computing GPS positions the satellite icon in the Status bar and the number

beside this (number of satellites being used) are solid (Figure 5). If the satellite or the number

beside it is flashing, the device has not yet acquired enough satellites with good geometry (to

compute a 3D GPS position, you will need a minimum of 4 satellites with good geometry). You may

slide the GPS slider bar (Figure 5) to the left to obtain satellites in less than favorable conditions

(i.e. under a tree canopy), but note that this decreases precision. You would slide the GPS slider to

the right to gain precision (i.e. in an open field). Generally, you want a PDOP value < 4 (Figure 5).

North indicator

Satellites not currently being used (white squares)

Satellites currently being used (black squares)

Your current GPS position

Number of satellites being used

Satellite icon

PDOP Value

GPS Slide Bar

Figure 2: Skyplot screen with satellites

Figure 3: Skyplot data


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5) OPTIONAL INFORMATION (If you click the arrow next to the Skyplot box, you will find the

following)

a) Skyplot: Location of satellites and PDOP

b) Satellite Info: satellite number, SNR, elevation, Br(T), almanac date

c) Receiver: position status, carrier time, connectivity of GPS and antenna

d) Real-time: integrated WAAS info and SNR

e) Plan: future satellite availability

f) Comms: ports

g) Time: displays Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) time; Greenwich, England

h) About: system info and system report access

6) To Create a New File (note: When using the Trimble device, data are collected in files made up of

features. There are three types of features: POINTS, LINES, and POLYGONS. A single file may

contain one or more of these features)

a) Tap the Data Icon (note: this is the icon directly below the windows icon . Depending on the

last usage of the device, this icon may say something else-tap it regardless and select Data)

b) Tap the icon below the Data icon: select New File (the new file screen appears; Figure 6)

Figure 4: New file screen

c) There is a default name give in the File Name field. You may change this to the file name

desired (Figure 6).

d) Tap Create

e) The Confirm Antenna Height form appears; if necessary, change this; otherwise ignore

f) Type: GeoXT Internal (default)

g) Tap OK

h) The Collect Features screen appears; you can now begin collecting features



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7) Collecting a Point Feature

a) Begin with steps 4,5,6, and 8 above

b) Make sure the Collect Features Screen is open; if not, tap the Status Icon- (note: this is the

icon directly below the windows icon . Depending on the last usage of the device, this icon

may say something else-tap it regardless and select Data)

c) Tap the icon below Data- select Existing File and select the data file you want to use

d) Tap Open at the bottom of the screen


f) Type: GeoXT Internal (default)- Tap OK

g) Tap the Collect Icon/Collect Features

h) Select Point_generic icon (you may enter a comment here if desired: tap the keyboard icon at

the bottom of the screen); tap DONE (note: by default, the Trimble device will begin logging

GPS positions as soon as you open a new feature; to delay logging positions until you log

attributes of the feature and/or reach the beginning point for the feature, tap the Options

Icon/Log Later- you will know the TerraSync software is not logging GPS positions when the

pause icon is flashing in the status bar)

i) The Trimble Device should begin collecting data (if it is paused, tap Log at the bottom of the

screen)

j) When you are ready to collect the point, tap DONE to save the point

k) A message, “feature stored” should appear; the point has been saved to the data file you

created

8) Collecting a Line Feature








f) Type: GeoXT Internal (default)- Tap OK


h) Select Line_generic icon (you may enter a comment here if desired: tap the keyboard icon at




Icon/Log Later- you will know the TerraSync software is not logging GPS positions if the pause

icon is flashing in the status bar)

i) Move to the beginning of the line you will be walking and tap Log if the device is paused;

begin walking




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j) When you have reached the end of the line, tap DONE

k) A message, “feature stored” should appear; the line has been saved to the data file you

created

9) Collecting an Area Feature (note: the first and last GPS positions logged will close the area,

therefore it is optional to return to the starting point):








f) Type: GeoXT Internal (default)- tap OK


h) Select Area_generic icon (you may enter a comment here if desired: tap the keyboard icon at




Icon/Log Later- you will know the TerraSync software is not logging GPS positions if the pause

icon is flashing in the status bar)

i) Move to the beginning point, and tap Log if the device is paused; begin walking the perimeter

of the area you want to record (note: you can pause logging at any time while walking the

perimeter and enter attribute values by tapping Pause; tap Resume to continue logging)

j) To view the map while collecting features, tap the Status Icon; select Map- (note: this should

be the icon directly below the windows icon . Depending on the last usage of the device, this

icon may say something else-tap it regardless and select Map. You can zoom in or out to look

at the map at different scales. To return to the Data screen, tap the Map Icon/Data)

k) When you have completed the perimeter of the area you want to record, tap DONE

l) A message, “feature stored” should appear; the line has been saved to the data file you

created

10) Vertex Averaging (note: when you are mapping an object, for example a building, you can stand

at points along the perimeter, i.e. building corners, and get average positions)

a) Stand at the first point or corner; follow steps (11: a-h) above

b) Tap the Options icon/New Vertex

c) Tap DONE at the bottom of the screen to collect that vertex point

d) Move to the next point or corner

e) Tap the Options icon/New Vertex

f) Follow this process until the last Vertex is recorded: tap OK to close the area feature




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11) Ending Data Collection

a) Tap DONE in the Collect Features screen

b) Tap YES to close the current data file; you will return to the Create a New File screen

c) Tap the Data Icon/Exit (note: this should be the icon directly below the windows icon .

Depending on the last usage of the device, this icon may say something else-tap it regardless

and select Data)

12) Navigation (once you have created a data file containing point features, you can navigate back to

them)

a) Tap the Data Icon (note: this should be the icon directly below the windows icon .


and select Data)

b) Tap the icon below the Data Icon- select Existing file-tap the file you want to select

c) Tap Open at the bottom of the screen

d) The Confirm Antenna Height form appears; if necessary, change this; otherwise ignore

e) Type: GeoXT Internal (default)- Tap OK

f) A list of the features in the data file selected will appear (the comments attached to the

feature highlighted may be seen at the bottom of the screen)

g) Tap the feature you want to navigate to; will be highlighted

h) Tap Options Icon/Set Nav Target and select the feature you have highlighted

i) Tap the Data Icon (note: this should be the icon directly below the windows icon .


and select Navigation)

j) Start moving toward the target; there will be an arrow to follow. You will also see a distance

indicating the remaining distance from your point to the target. The bearing and heading

values should be the same value when you are following the correct path.

k) Tap the Navigation icon; select Map if you want to view your destination

l) When you reach the destination, the distance should ≈ 0. Tap the Options Icon/ Clear Nav

Targets

13) Connecting the Trimble Device to the Computer

a) Place the Trimble device in the receiver and turn it on

b) Connect the Trimble to the computer you are using with the USB cable (you may also use

Bluetooth wireless)

c) A Windows Mobile Screen Appears; select continue without setting up your device (Note: You

also have the option to follow the Windows Mobile instructions to set up the connections to

your specifications, although this is unnecessary for data transfer)

14) GPS Pathfinder Office Software v. 4.20-File Settings and Options

***This section (steps 16-20) will be edited when the new Pathfinder Software Arrives***

a) Open GPS Pathfinder software

b) Select File/Projects/New (creates a new project)





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c) Type in a project name (today’s date will appear automatically in comments; you may edit this

if desired)

d) Select a project folder location (under the destination drive)

e) This folder will be where the Trimble device stores the .ssf data files (from the selected

project) when you connect it to the computer

f) Backup folder: location for backup copies of your data files

g) Export folder: exported GIS files will later be stored here

h) Base folder: base station files will be stored here

i) Select OK- If you need to set options, continue through steps (j-l) below; if you have done this

previously, continue to step (m) below:

j) Select Options/ Units… (review all default units and make changes if necessary)

k) Select Options/Coordinate System… (select coordinate system for display- for this example,

we are using: System: UTM, Zone: 13 North, and Datum: WGS84) also select altitude

measured from mean sea level (MSL), default Geoid model, and coordinate and altitude units

in meters.

l) Select Options/Time Zone… (in this example, we are using Mountain Standard Time)

15) Transferring Data from the Trimble to a Computer using GPS Pathfinder Office Software (note: If

the TerraSync software and the GPS Pathfinder Office software are installed on the same computer

(i.e. a laptop), then you can skip this step)

a) In the GPS Pathfinder software, Select Utilities/Data Transfer…

b) The Data Transfer Screen should appear; if the device is connected, you will see green circles

with check marks at the top of the window (Figure 7):

Figure 5: GPS Pathfinder Office’s data transfer screen


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c) With the Receive Tab selected, select Add icon/Data File

d) The available files will appear; select all files to be transferred into the project

e) Select Open- the files will move to the “files to receive” window

f) Select Transfer All icon- the files will be downloaded to the main project directory from step

15 above

g) Select Close when you are finished transferring files

16) Viewing your Files in GPS Pathfinder Office

h) In the GPS Pathfinder software, select File/Open (will be a .ssf file)

i) There are various tools to use: zoom, ruler, etc.

j) To change symbols for features, select View/Layers/Features

17) Plotting the Map in GPS Pathfinder Office

a) In the GPS Pathfinder software, select File/Plot Map

18) Differential Correction of Data in GPS Pathfinder Office

(OPTIONAL- may improve the accuracy of GPS positions if you suspect any errors such as

atmospheric noise)

a) In the GPS Pathfinder software, open the project containing the data you want to correct

b) Select Utilites/Differential Correction

c) The Differential Correction Wizard will begin

d) Select the .ssf file(s) to correct

e) Select Processing Type: Automatic Standard Carrier and Code Processing

f) Select Base Data Provider- Search for the closest Trimble Station (the closest one to you

should appear when you search)

g) Continue through the wizard (leaving default options)

h) A new file (s) will be created (.cor) that is the corrected file(s)

Additional References http://www.trimble.com/geoxt3000_ts.asp?Nav=Collection-76246

http://www.geoplane.com/downloads/Datalogger_Manuals/Mapping/GeoExplorer%202003%2

0XT%20Getting%20Started%20Guide.pdf

http://www.geoplane.com/downloads/Receiver_Manuals/Mapping/Geo%20Explorer%20III%20

Operation%20Guide.pdf

http://www.trimble.com/geoxt3000_ts.asp?Nav=Collection-76246

http://www.geoplane.com/downloads/Datalogger_Manuals/Mapping/GeoExplorer%202003%20XT%20Getting%20Started%20Guide.pdf

http://www.geoplane.com/downloads/Datalogger_Manuals/Mapping/GeoExplorer%202003%20XT%20Getting%20Started%20Guide.pdf

http://www.geoplane.com/downloads/Receiver_Manuals/Mapping/Geo%20Explorer%20III%20Operation%20Guide.pdf

http://www.geoplane.com/downloads/Receiver_Manuals/Mapping/Geo%20Explorer%20III%20Operation%20Guide.pdf

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Collecting Data Using a Trimble GeoExplorer Tutorial... by default